DN grad Glen Orton used height to his advantage

By Dick Trone August 13, 2013 01:22 pm

It is always fun to look back and write about former Warriors teammates, and 1952 Warrior graduate Glen Orton is one of those. Glen was one year behind me at Del Norte, and I got to know him well. He was one of the tallest boys in school at about 6 foot 3 inches or 6 foot 4. He was a three-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball and track during his entire high school career.

In football we both played the same position — end — so we regularly competed in drills together. Glen had the privilege of playing three of his football years under my all-time favorite coach, Chuck DeAutremont. Chuck coached the Warriors during the 1949–1951 seasons. When football ended Glen headed to the basketball court, where his height made him a real valuable part of the program. During Glen’s senior basketball season he got to play for this year’s Hall of Fame coach inductee, Tex Gatlin, who was just starting his long run as the Warriors’ coach in football and basketball. After basketball, Glen always headed to the track. With all his other athletic activities, he also found time to involve himself in the tumbling program.

Athletics were not Glen’s only interest. He worked in the Annual staff during all four years, was part of the Rally Club and was an officer in the “D” Club.

After graduation, Glen and I had another interesting experience. I was drafted into the Army following my sophomore football season at Humboldt State and was in Basic Training in Fort Ord. About halfway through my training a new draft class entered in the Company right next to mine and who should be in that group but Glen Orton! Our friendship was able to continue.

When I shipped out for Korea I lost track of Glen, but I will always look back at Glen as a special teammate and a special friend.

Dick Trone writes on his reflections and the history of Del Norte High sports. He played football for the Warriors and graduated in 1951, later serving as the school’s football coach for a number of years.